Thorvaldsen's Works, Payment in Installments

• Redaktørerne ved Arkivet, arkivet.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk, 2014
• Translation by David Possen

• Thorvaldsen’s works were paid for in installments. This article presents a series of examples.
  The list is updated regularly.

Payment in installments

For the large majority of his works, Thorvaldsen received payment in installments—most commonly, in two to four installments per commission. The size and dates of these payments were normally specified in contracts between Thorvaldsen and his clients. The installments were to be paid at significant milestones during the production process, which in the case of sculptures—as well as, to a more limited extent, reliefs—often extended over many years.
If a commissioned sculpture had no plaster model, but was to be created from scratch, payment would typically take place in four installments. The first installment would be paid immediately upon receipt of the commission; the second would fall due when the plaster model was complete, and marble was to be purchased; the third would come after the rough carving of the marble by Thorvaldsen’s assistants; and the fourth was to be paid when the artwork was complete.
If a plaster model did exist, then the first stage of the above process was normally unnecessary, and the schedule of payments often consisted of only three installments.
In the case of busts, payment was frequently divided into only two installments: upon receipt of the commission, and at completion.

For Thorvaldsen, the purpose of dividing payments into installments was both to raise funds to cover the costs associated with initiating a project—for example, purchasing marble, or paying wages to his assistants—and to insure himself against a commission’s sudden cancellation. As Thorvaldsen himself explained the policy:
“When a sculptor receives a commission, he incurs costs for which the advance payment provides insurance, should he be involved with irresponsible personages who might forget to pay after leaving Rome, and so leave the artist in the lurch … as I have occasionally experienced myself …” Cf. his letter dated 5.1.1841.

On the actual prices of Thorvaldsen’s works, please see the Related Article on the subject.
On the principles used by Thorvaldsen to arrive at particular prices for his own works, please see the Related Article on the subject.

Below are examples of how Thorvaldsen organized the schedules of installment payments for his commissions, both for different types of artworks and at different points in his career.

Last updated 14.10.2016